Mandevilla plant named ‘Inmanbeppa’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Inmanbeppa’, characterized by its broadly upright and vining plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; red purple-colored flowers with yellow orange-colored centers that resist fading; and relative tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla sanderi.

Cultivar denomination: ‘INMANBEPPA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla sanderi and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Inmanbeppa’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Johannesburg, South Africa and Heidesheim, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching Mandevilla plants that flower early and freely and have attractive flowers that resist fading and sun scald.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Johannesburg, South Africa in January, 2014 of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number D11-2124-2, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number D11-2097-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heidesheim, Germany in June, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heidesheim, Germany since August, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Inmanbeppa’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Inmanbeppa’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and vining plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Red purple-colored flowers with yellow orange-colored centers         that resist fading.     -   7. Relatively tolerant to low temperatures.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more upright and larger than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla flower earlier than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Mandevilla resist fading whereas         flowers of plants of the female parent selection fade         significantly.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are larger than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have stronger roots than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla have darker red purple-colored         flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants of Mandevilla sanderi ‘Fisrix Pinka’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,644. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants ‘Fisrix Pinka’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Mandevilla are longer and broader         than leaves of plants of ‘Fisrix Pinka’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Mandevilla are darker green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘Fisrix Pinka’.     -   3. Flower petals of plants of the new Mandevilla are shorter and         broader than flower petals of plants of ‘Fisrix Pinka’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Mandevilla resist fading whereas         flowers of plants of ‘Fisrix Pinka’ fade significantly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Inmanbeppa’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Inmanbeppa’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late spring in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Heidesheim, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Mandevilla production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 18° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla sanderi ‘Inmanbeppa’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             sanderi identified as code number D11-2124-2.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             sanderi identified as code number D11-2097-1. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 35° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at             temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 20 to 25             days at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 35° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 25 to 30             days at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and vining plant             habit; roughly broadly obovate in overall shape; moderately             vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 31             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 32.6             cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 36.5 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit, typically about three primary lateral             branches each with about three secondary lateral branches.             Length: About 16.9 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode             length: About 2.7 cm. Aspect: Primary lateral branches,             erect to about 10° from vertical; secondary lateral             branches, about 30° from primary branch axis. Strength:             Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy;             becoming woody with development. Color, developing: Close to             144A. Color, developed: Close to 144A; when woody, close to             N199A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 6.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly elliptic to obovate.         -   Apex.—Short apiculate.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire; not undulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             moderately coriaceous; moderately glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             moderately coriaceous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker             than 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A             to 146B. Full expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than             between 139A and 147A; venation, close to 143A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation,             close to 145B to 145C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm by 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to             146D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged in axillary cymes; flowers face outwardly to             somewhat upright; freely flowering habit with about five             flowers per inflorescence and about 45 flower buds and open             flowers developing per plant during the flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             spring into the autumn in Germany; plants begin flowering             about 16 weeks after propagation (dependent on light level).         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about             ten days; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 9.6 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10.9 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Distally, close to 53C;             proximally, close to 145C and at the base, close to 145A to             145B.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and             five-parted. Diameter: About 7 cm. Depth (length): About             6.6 cm. Throat diameter: About 1.5 cm. Tube length: About             5.1 cm. Tube diameter: Proximally, about 3.5 mm; distally,             about 1.8 cm.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl; lower 61% portion of the petals are fused into             a funnelform tube. Petal length: About 8.3 cm. Petal width:             About 2.7 cm. Petal shape and appearance: Roughly unequal             spatulate. Petal apex: Apiculate. Petal margin: Entire;             moderately undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Petal texture and             luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;             moderately glossy. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety.             Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to N57A;             fading towards the apex, close to 53C. Petal, when opening,             lower surface: Close to between 58B and 53D; midvein, close             to NN155D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to             N57C; fading towards the apex, close to N57B; venation,             similar to lamina; color becoming closer to 58D with             development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to             58B; midvein, close to NN155D; color becoming closer to 58C             with development. Throat: Close to 15A; at the base, close             to N144D; venation, similar to lamina. Tube: Close to             between 58C to 58D; proximally, close to 150D and at the             base, close to N144D; venation, similar to lamina.         -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl. Calyx length: About 9 mm. Calyx diameter:             About 5 mm. Sepal length: About 8 mm. Sepal width: About             2 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Narrowly             acuminate. Sepal base: Broadly cuneate. Sepal margin:             Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Sepal color: When             developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C; fading             towards the base to close to 144A; at the apex, close to             179C. Fully developed, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             145C; fading towards the base to close to 144A; at the apex,             close to 179B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° from lateral branch             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color:             Close to 143B to 143C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 20° to 35° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 143C slightly tinged with close to             171D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament             length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 153D. Anther             shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther size: About 9 mm by 1.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 162D. Pollen amount: None observed.             Pistils: Quantity: Typically one. Pistil length: About             2.8 cm. Style length: About 2.5 cm. Style color: Close to             145D. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped, pointed. Stigma color: Close to 146D. Ovary             color: Close to 144B to 144C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Mandevilla     have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about     40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 13. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Inmanbeppa’ as illustrated and described. 